A Day of Documentaries

 Dress: Shirred Surplice Dress in Cyan Paisley by Lands' End (size 3x) via GB SHOP

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Born

Earrings: Babil & Bijou

Necklace: Antique Locket

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this outfit to another 2 days of film fest movies. I bought this dress from the GB SHOP for $10, a bit worn...last October I paired it with pink & yellow. Another comfy dress to sit around in dark theaters. Lands' End dresses are the best...great fit, easy to throw on...I got a few compliments while wearing this dress, so I was able to share my LE love with some other women. I wore it with orange this time because I already had orange nail polish on my nails & toes. 

Sunday...David, Kate, & I spent the day together watching 4 documentaries...my favorite two were a great double feature...Presenting Princess Shaw & Sonita...both women dream of being famous singers. Film Fest Food...lunch at Cafe Porta Alba & lunch the next day on my own...sitting outside. These chips were amazing. 

Adorable Kate being more adorable with Jason...cuddling on the couch at Sundance. 

Living in Madison...we had to see The Smart Studios Story. Butch Vig recorded Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, L7, & a bunch of other music I loved in the 90s there...plus, of course, his own band...Garbage. I drove by Smart every day & the guys in Garbage hung out in the same bar I did at night....Cafe Montmartre. The filmmaker, Wendy Schneider, was there...along with Steve Marker & Butch Vig...to do a q&a after the documentary. Honestly, that was the best part...I felt she had so much great material to work with, but the documentary was a bit flat...too many facts & not enough stories. I'd probably only recommend this to Madison folks. 

My make-up with this outfit included...NYX eyeliner in Azure, Nars eyeshadow duo in Mediteranee, Korean Candy lipstick by MAC, & OPI nail polish in Orange You Going to the Game? I'm not sure about this blue eyeliner...I liked it in person, but in these photos I look scary...but it was a good match with the dress. 

2016 Wisconsin Film Festival Begins

 Dress: Nina Dress in Winter Plaid Print by Effie's Heart (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Dream of the Crop (size 4x) via Modcloth

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Moda Spana, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Me

Photography: Super Boo & Me

 Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this outfit the first two days of the film fest. Effie's Heart clothing is made out of a thick t-shirt material & always so comfy...so it was perfect for movie watching. Unfortunately, this dress from GB came to me faded & a bit pilled...but...one of the lovely ladies from Girls of GB offered me hers...as she bought it, but never wore it...so you'll see this dress on me again, styled for summer. So, obviously, I liked it...I adored the asymmetrically placed fabric pieces, length, & modest neckline (my boobs can't be hanging out *all* the time)...& this is a year round dress as it's made out of breathable cotton/spandex.

Our first two days of the Wisconsin Film Fest, we saw 8 of our 25 movies. We typically buy tickets for that many movies...then end up skipping some & walking out of others. This year we watched all 25 movies all the way through. Unheard of! The fest asks you to vote on a scale of 1-5...normally we give out 1 or 2 5's & 2 or 3 4's...this year nearly all of our movies were in that range. Best film fest EVER! The two I'd most recommend from our first days...Love & Peace, Japan, a would-be rock star & his love for his pet turtle...Men & Chickens, Denmark, dysfunctional family comedy. 

I wore the cardigan a bit, but we had gorgeous spring weather, so mostly...without. These Dream of the Crop cardigans from ModCloth (I think the brand is MAK) are my favs...they are the same ones they sell on Pinup Girl Clothing...& I NEED it in Fiesta Orange!

Lunch at home...Olive really wanted some of my curried tofu. David & I had dinner at Ha Long Bay before our last film of the night...

The Barrymore Theatre in our neighborhood was a new addition this year to the festival...not the most comfortable seats, but adult beverages & close to home. 

My make-up with this outfit included...NYX eyeliner in Deep Blue, Heroine eyeshadow by Urban Decay, Mediteranee eyeshadow duo by Nars, MAC lipstick in Korean Candy, & OPI nail polish in Orange You Going to the Game? I have been LOVING this NYX eyebrow pencil...it is the equal of the Anastasia I've been using for years...at less than 1/2 the cost! 

Let's Spend the Afternoon in a Hot Air Balloon

 Sweater: Lane Bryant

Skirt: Carnaby Skirt in Up & Away Print by Effie's Heart (size 4x) via FabFatshion Resale Group

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Groundhog, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Babil & Bijou

Bracelet: Kate

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this outfit for an afternoon with Angie, then grocery shopping & again on Monday to run fun errands & work. GB had this Effie's Heart balloon print in a dress & skirt...& they retired both before ever sending them to me. However, Rita was able to find this skirt for me in perfect shape...LOVE! I've had it since last year, but it took having no GB at home to finally get worn. I wore it to the farmers' market with Kate in the morning with a coral sweater that Kate hated...I may have to throw it out. I like the chartreuse with it better...a much more fun option than black. 

Breakfast at Original Pancake House...poor Angie...this is where I always want to go for breakfast/lunch because no one else (David or Kate) will go with me. Spinach omelette with mushroom sauce, buttermilk pancakes, & hash browns with cheese...YUM. Then off to Z.Bella for their Kiyonna trunk show. They had a lot of pretty Kiyonna to ogle, but only one dress in my size. That is often the case there. I struggle with wanting to support a local business...especially one that carries lovely plus size clothing...but I feel left out when I go in there. I tried on 2 things & nearly bought this reversible jacket, but decided I'd only be buying it because it was the only thing there I could buy...& I didn't love it. Angie bought some comfy pants. 

Sephora was having their spring sale...& the store was packed like Christmas, which made it difficult to play...I was trying out Bite Beauty's Amuse Bouche lipsticks & constantly getting bumped...when I noticed I had been pushed repeatedly into these open lipsticks...it was all over me...

We left...drove by Ulta...& decided it was too busy to go anywhere. Or maybe it was me...I hate crowds. 

On Monday I placed an online order with Sephora for foundation & went into Ulta to take advantage of their NYX buy 2, get 1 free sale...plus I had coupons. I adore NYX...it's as good as most high end brands for a fraction of the cost. And SO many fun colors!

Shoes! I found these shoes at a garage sale in my neighborhood on my way to the library 3 years ago...this was my first time wearing them. When I was out with Angie, I wore black shoes...but I changed into these when I got home. I would have worn them earlier, but I couldn't find them & was running late as usual. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Zero, Sugarpill eyeshadow in Acidberry, Too Faced eyeshadow in Sin City, Bite Beauty lipstick in Blood Orange, NYX lipstick in Hippy Chic, In My Back Pocket nail polish from OPI, with Alys Dream Polish in Sweet Orange on top. 

Linking this to Visible Monday over on Not Dead Yet Style.

Old-Fashioned: The Story of the Wisconsin Supper Club

 Dress: Orange Floral Fit & Flare Dress by Spruce & Sage (size 5x) via FabFatshion Resale or Gwynnie Bee ISO

Teggings: Re/Dress

Shoes: Born

Earring: Wendy Baker

Necklace & Bracelet: Babil & Bijou

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this outfit on so many days that it became a joke between David & I...I would say...gueeeess which dress I'm wearing?? It was just so easy to throw on & comfortable. I did not always wear make-up as I was mostly running errands & couldn't be bothered. This was a GB house brand dress that was retired before I could try it...& ORANGE...so I *had* to have it...Rita or Loraine found it for me...they run the 2 groups I listed above & they get a ton of retired GB & sell it for great prices...check them out.

I had been wanting to see this documentary, Old Fashioned: The Story of the Wisconsin Supper Club, since missing it at the film fest last year (Kate went & loved it). So we attended the monthly CHEW (Culinary History Enthusiasts of Wisconsin) meeting where they were showing the documentary, followed by a q&a with the filmmaker. It was fabulous & there are a few supper clubs David & I might have to take road trips to this summer. Like Friday Fish Fry's, Supper Clubs are mostly a Wisconsin thing & Brandy Old-Fashioned is the drink of choice. Unbeknownst to us...there was food...prepared by the CHEW food committee...desserts made from the Wisconsin Supper Club Cookbook (the author was present). Schaum torte, white chocolate cheesecake, 2 different grasshopper cakes, brandy old-fashioned cake, & homemade vanilla ice cream. Delicious! The meetings are free & open to the public, however, there is a picnic potluck in the summer that is members only. I am considering joining...I think I'll go to the May meeting & decide. 

David & I had Indian buffet for lunch with Angie & she had just been to Savers...which reminded us we had a bag in the backseat that needed to be donated. I found 6 pairs of shoes & 5 cardigans that needed to come home with me. 

I also got a summer haircut while wearing this dress (this is the wall outside) & picked up our Wisconsin Film Fest tickets (sold out board). 

Dividing our tickets at home...supervised by Rye. David & I saw 25 movies each this year...the reason I was not able to blog at all last week.

My make-up with this outfit included...Deep Purple eyeliner by NYX, Jilted & Urban eyeshadows by Urban Decay, Sugarpill eyeshadow in Flamepoint, Bite Beauty lipsticks in Toast & Blood Orange, & OPI's I Carol About You nail polish. 

Dan Savage's HUMP! Film Fest

 Dress: Lace Up Dress in Navy Paisley by Alice & You (size 28) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Mossimo, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Shorter Necklace: Vintage

Longer Necklace: Babil & Bijou

Bracelet: Age Before Beauty

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this dress out on a Saturday night & again on Tuesday to vote & spend the day with Super Boo. I had this style of dress last month in teal check...however, the fabric is completely different...this dress is the typical slippery poly, while the check was closer to flannel. My favorite pattern is paisley, so I was in love with this dress, but there was too much grey in it for me...otherwise I loved the colors, fit, & length. The lace up front doesn't lay quite right when completely laced up...I wore it folded under in a v-neck on Saturday which I liked better. 

On Saturday night David, Angie, & I went out to dinner at Alchemy...we were meeting there at 5 & I was expecting this dress to come in the mail...at 4:30 our mail still hadn't come. I had done my make-up & picked out accessories based on the photos on GB. Finally at 4:39...the box was delivered...I threw it on & we left the house. The tights & shoes were a good match, but when I wore this again on Tuesday I changed my make-up, nail polish, & jewelry. 
The burgers at Alchemy are so amazingly good...this was the apple rum grass fed beef burger with sweet onion rum relish, habanero  aioli, & house made pickles. For dessert we walked over to Chocolatarian...I chose my 2 favorite wine pairing sweets from the night before...key lime white chocolate square & a chocolate bar with peanut butter & salted caramel. 

Then on to the Hump! film fest with Dan Savage. Super Boo & I had gone 2 years ago...but missed it last year. Hump! features many short (5 minutes or less) amateur porn videos made by people of all sizes & sexual expression. It is awesome. 

On Tuesday we voted for Bernie! Then went to Alchemy for lunch because I couldn't get that burger out of my mind. I had the exact same meal, including sweet potato fries...but I changed my drink from a Moscow Mule on Saturday to a Philosopher's Stone...which is what David drank on Saturday & I had been envious of. Then down the street to Gail Ambrosius to collect our free sea salt caramel for voting...& couldn't resist getting a 6 piece box to bring home...2 were eaten in the car before I snapped a photo. David & I sat in the driveway talking for a bit...I find I have some of the best conversations sitting in the car. 

This is V for Vote & not peace...but peace is good too. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeshadow in Chaos, a mixture of 4 orange eyeshadows from the Morphe Brushes Color Glam Palette, a mixture of Bite Beauty lipstick in Blood Orange & NYX Hippy Chic, & OPI nail polish in Aloha from OPI. 

Savage Love Live

 Dress: V-Neck Dress in Peacock Roses by Melissa Masse (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Tights: Catherines

Shoes: Naturalizer, thrifted 

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this dress out on a Friday night. Holy buckets, was this dress tight...waaaay out of my comfort zone. It was an A-line dress that was too small on me...which turned it into a bodycon hubba hubba dress that David & Kate assured me I could wear in public...so I did. The fabric was a lovely jacquard knit with a slight stretch in a beautiful shade of ocean blue. Melissa Masse usually fits me well in a 4x...but I can't wear fit & flares all the time. At first I felt blumpy in this dress & it made me crabby...David suggested I change outfits so we could have a fun night...but as time went on I actually felt sexy...the closeness of the dress on my body felt like a hug. I like pushing myself out of my comfort zone & GB is a great assistance with that. 

Wine & Chocolate Pairing with Kate & David. These were delicious & delightful...especially the first wine with white chocolate lime squares...heavenly...they made the wine taste citrusy. It was perfect. David & Kate fell in love with the Occhipinti's Nero d'Avola Passito & bought a bottle to split in the future. 

David & I are avid readers of Savage Love, which started here in Madison when Dan was working as a manager at my favorite video store. I've seen him speak a few times, but he was here for the weekend & was recording a podcast the first night. David submitted two questions & he answered one!

That hula hoop on stage with Dan (wearing his Bernie for President shirt) is the state of Washington...which he brings with him when he travels because pot is legal there. Dan was hilarious & I can't remember when I laughed so much at a show. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Gypsy Blue eyeliner by NYX, Urban Decay liquid liner in Siren, UD eyeshadow in Fringe & Stargazer, & NYX Simply Vamp lipstick in Bewitching. My nail polish was by OPI & a perfect match for this outfit...but I forgot to take a photo...I think it's This Color's Making Waves.

I'm linking up to Visible Monday over on Not Dead Yet Style.

Easter Egg Outfit

 Dress: Skater Dress in Ink with Keyhole by Julian Taylor (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee, Try then Buy (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Lands' End, thrifted

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Mossimo, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelet: Wendy Baker

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this outfit to work on the day after Easter. There must have been an Easter egg hunt in this cemetery the day before because there were 2 eggs that happened to match my outfit next to this building we often take pictures in front of...we had to go a bit off to the side as it was still early in the day & incredibly sunny. I had this dress in red back in February & bought it during a sale...this dress came to me during a sale too...so it's mine. I blame the texture...I can't resist a solid color dress with a fun textured pattern & I button the cardigan up over the keyhole for work. Great length & fit...my only complaint is the dreaded pointless HUGE gold zipper up the back. 

I adore Lands' End cardigans & am always excited when I find one at a thrift store...this one is in perfect condition & I am loving the spring vibe it adds to this outfit. I am sure you are sick of seeing these shoes...but every time I reach for a different pair of blue shoes...I put these on instead...the shiny blue always wins out. It looks like I've laid these eggs. 

 Torrid 50% off sale leggings...

Indian buffet for lunch with David. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay liner in LSD, UD eyeshadow in Grasshopper, Sugarpill eyeshadow in Acidberry, Bite Beauty lipstick in Winterberry, & My Gecko Does Tricks nail polish by OPI.